Bolts remain defensive, picking Reyes, Taylor in second, third rounds

SAN DIEGO ---- It sounds crazy to say during NFL draft month, but the Chargers weren't lying. They said defense would be the focus of the 2012 draft. Sure enough, it has been.

In a month known for smokescreens and misdirection, general manager A.J. Smith was straightforward in his approach and execution, selecting defensive players in each of the first three rounds.

Smith added Connecticut defensive end Kendall Reyes with the No. 49 overall pick and traded up to take LSU strong safety Brandon Taylor at No. 73 in the second and third rounds of the draft on Friday.

They joined South Carolina outside linebacker Melvin Ingram, who was selected at No. 18 on Thursday and arrived in San Diego for a press conference and an orientation on Friday.

"We had a defensive game plan and an emphasis toward that side of the ball in this draft," Smith said. "That continued on the second day with a pair of players we believe can really help us."

Though rookies generally need time to realize their potential and make consistent contributions, the Chargers have selected players to fill specific needs.

After finishing last in the NFL in third-down defense in 2011, the Chargers have a pair of players (in Ingram and Reyes) who can help in those situations. Ingram is a stout pass rusher from the edge or the interior as a linebacker. Reyes is an end in a 3-4 scheme, but has the quickness to excel as an interior pass rusher in nickel packages.

A key to improving third-down defense is pressuring the quarterback on passing downs, and the Chargers think they have improved their ability to do that.

"We believe we've gotten more athletic, faster and more dangerous at rushing the quarterback," Smith said. "That's especially true in sub packages and on passing downs. The versatility is there in these players that allow the coaches to be creative and use them in a number of different ways."

The next issue was the most obvious. The Chargers had only one strong safety on the roster in free-agent acquisition Atari Bigby. Taylor makes it two.

"This was a guy we coveted at a position of need for us," director of player personnel Jimmy Raye said. "We're looking to add depth at strong safety, and he was a guy we liked from the beginning."

The Chargers traded up five spots to get Taylor, sending the No. 78 pick and No. 183 (sixth round) to the Miami Dolphins in return.

The Chargers had tried to move into earlier draft slots, but Taylor remained available long enough to end up a Charger. Smith said the third and fourth rounds can be unpredictable, and that the Chargers didn't want to miss out on a player they rated as the third-best safety ---- albeit with a significant gap in between ---- behind Alabama's Mark Barron (No. 7 to Tampa Bay) and Notre Dame's Harrison Smith (No. 29 to Minnesota).

"We felt this was the next-best option for us," Smith said. "We added a strong player we believe in, at a spot that needs competition. We felt we could get him there and not much later, and we decided to be aggressive and go get him. We didn't want to fool around."

The Chargers will give Taylor an opportunity to compete with Bigby for the starting job and to play in nickel situations. Taylor will also be involved in the kicking game.

"He's going to compete to play at strong safety and (in) our third-down package," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "He was one of our top-rated special teams players. There's obviously a lot left to work out, but I can tell you one thing: He'll be tired when the game's over."

The Chargers still have picks to make in the fourth (No. 110), fifth (No. 149) and seventh (No. 226, 250) rounds, which will take place Saturday starting at 9 a.m. While some offensive players could creep into the class ---- possibly at offensive line and running back ---- the Chargers aren't done looking at defense.

"So far we've got three athletic players that have had great production in college," Turner said. "They all come in and are able to contribute right away. I wouldn't mind adding another defensive player if we can and keep doing what we've done and pick the guy that fits us best."